Meet Omotola

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Omotola a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Omotola, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I hold on to its back with my claws. Creativity is too closely intertwined with a certain joy for me not to be aggressive about protecting that spark. I stay open to inspiration and try to pay attention. I look at the trees and the flowers, I sit alone at a bar and look out the window, I read books, ask questions, try not to look too far ahead. I apply meaning to my experiences, stay friends with wonder and imagination, and keep whatever is the heart of creativity away from numbers and logic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

There are so many wonderful stories waiting to be told out there, perspectives to discover, new imaginations waiting to be told whether in written form, film, and music. I love to contribute my own unique thoughts by way of music and writing. I love to help support others as it comes film and television. The entertainment industry is so connected that I think both practices support one another.

Right now, I’m so excited to be sharing music as a new mixtape of mine called “Moonlit, Baby” that releases August 30th. From its title to its contents, it speaks of an alternative light or way of seeing things. You go from being idolized to resenting the podium, from what you thought was love to a more divine taste of it, from saving someone to realizing you are the one who needs to be saved. It’s that moment of clash, or awakening. Beyond all that – it was my first time producing an EP and I had free range in its making – samples, sounds, audios, fast beats. There’s a bit of untidiness almost to the work but I really liked that. It’s true and honest. Maybe I’m just nostalgic to hang onto those human elements.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Learning self-esteem, self-worth, and understanding self. If I can hand over these 3 things to every person in the world I would. With these things I was better able to articulate what is important to me and why, and then find the courage to share those thoughts with others. My advice is meditation, books, biographies of anyone who inspires you, meditations, subliminal messages, listen to what the lyrics of the songs you love playing are saying to you, and chasing down anything that brings you even a little iota of joy. Oh, and don’t be afraid to feel. There’s truth to your feelings.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Ok, so there may be sexier titles to mention but I think the biggest, most significant leap forward for me was when I read “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. Basically, the book showed me how to start cleaning up my inner world and making a little palace there with a studio included.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/omotola

Image Credits

Marielle Stobie for first 3 professional photos

Personal photo for pink sweater